House Republican leaders are jockeying for position after Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s primary upset to college professor David Brat in Virginia and Mr. Cantor’s subsequent decision to leave his leadership post on July 31. Cantor had been seen as a potential successor to Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio), so his departure shakes things up in several ways. Whoever succeeds him in a June 18 election will serve under Boehner for the remainder of the 113th Congress, then a replay of the leadership races will occur again after the November elections. Here’s how the lineup looked as of late Wednesday.

MAJORITY LEADER

The second-highest ranking officer in the House, the majority leader handles the floor schedule and oversees the business of the House and its committees, so he or she can have significant influence over the direction of the chamber. Here are some people to watch in this race.

Kevin McCarthy

House Majority Whip Rep. Kevin McCarthy

Getty Images

Currently House Majority Whip, Mr. McCarthy is expected by many GOP aides to look to fill the majority leader role. While popular among the rank-and-file whose votes he corrals, Mr. McCarthy’s spot in the current leadership constellation could work against him if more conservative members are hankering to elevate one of their own. The Californian has long been close to Mr. Cantor, who backed him for the spot on Wednesday. Along with the House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R., Wis.), the two founded the party’s “Young Guns” program, aimed at attracting a younger generation of Republicans to the party.

Pete Sessions

Rep. Pete Sessions

Getty Images

The nine-term Texan has already begun asking colleagues to support him for leader. He has overseen the party’s campaign operation, the National Republican Congressional Committee during two cycles, 2010 when the GOP took control of the House and 2012. He touts that majority making role in explaining why he should be leader. He has also been part of the GOP leadership team as chairman of the House Rules Committee, which is the arm of the leadership that controls the flow of legislation to the House floor.

Jeb Hensarling

Jeb Hensarling (R., Texas)

Reuters

The former Republican Study Committee chairman, Hensarling, also from Texas, is currently chairman of the House Financial Services Committee. The conservative firebrand has shown no qualms about bucking Wall Street or other business interests in favor of his free-market principles. Mr. Hensarling has already staked out conservative ground this year on flood insurance, terrorism risk insurance and the Export-Import Bank, offering him a policy platform on which to make his case.

MAJORITY WHIP

If Mr. McCarthy were to move up, his current job of whip, which rounds up members and counts heads during close votes, would become open. While House Republicans often are unified on votes, the whip job can be difficult when the conference threatens to fracture, as it did on controversial votes such as raising the debt ceiling. Two men have suggested they might raise their hand for the job.

Peter Roskam

Well-connected within current GOP leadership, the Illinois Republican and his staff have been preparing for a leadership fight for some time, prompting Mr. Roskam to already start angling for the House Majority Whip position through listening sessions and outreach to fellow Republicans. But like Mr. McCarthy of California, the Illinois Republican stands at a disadvantage hailing from a state that leans Democratic at a time when the party’s right wing wants an expanded role among leadership.

Steve Scalise

Rep. Steve Scalise.

Bloomberg News

Mr. Scalise, from Louisiana, is the current Republican Study Committee chairman and has used his post leading the group of the House’s most conservative lawmakers to try to push the GOP conference to the right on policy issues including fighting the Affordable Care Act and encouraging offshore drilling. If Mr. McCarthy vacates the post of whip, Mr. Scalise will vie to replace him, according to GOP aides.

ANOTHER TO WATCH

Rep. Tom Price, at left.

Associated Press

Rep. Tom Price (R. Ga.): Mr. Price is another former RSC chairman who has sought a place in GOP leadership previously and could again, given the right conditions. An orthopedic surgeon, Mr. Price narrowly lost a 2012 race to Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R., Wash.) to serve as the GOP Conference chairman. An outspoken opponent of the Affordable Care Act, Mr. Price has plenty of credibility in conservative circles and has previously called for more Republicans from “red states” to be included in the ranks of leadership.

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Washington Wire is one of the oldest standing features in American journalism. Since the Wire launched on Sept. 20, 1940, the Journal has offered readers an informal look at the capital. Now online, the Wire provides a succession of glimpses at what’s happening behind hot stories and warnings of what to watch for in the days ahead. The Wire is led by Reid J. Epstein, with contributions from the rest of the bureau. Washington Wire now also includes Think Tank, our home for outside analysis from policy and political thinkers.